This season I was once again a guest of Melanie Mills, Zena Shteysel, Angela Moos, Patti Ramsey Bortoli, Nadege Schoenfeld, Barbi Fonte and spray tanner Fiona Locke, whose seamless work with hair and wardrobe turned out yet another hopeful Emmy nomination and possible win for their season 12 efforts.

The visit uncovered many of the stand-by needed workhorse color lines, M.A.C., Makeup Forever, Armani, Dior, Aucoin, YSL, Laura Mercier, Lancôme, L’Oreal, NYX, Ardell Lashes, OPI, Bed Head by Tigi and Julie Hewett – and revealed some new star players that are making the contestants gorgeous for the camera.

Mills is a brand ambassador for St. Tropez and a spokesperson for Anastasia Beverly Hills and shares with me that makeup for DWTS must have staying power for the long days on Monday and Tuesday.

It all starts with St. Tropez self-tanning, the first step for all DWTS contestants. For the last five years, Mills put her distinctive glamour makeup stamp on the show and revolutionized body makeup, taking it to new heights with her very own Gleam Body Radiance, now available in four shades.

“I couldn’t find deeper shades of body makeup with a velvet shimmer that wouldn’t go greasy or ashy on the skin, and it was a problem. I wanted to perfect the St. Tropez tan and have a luminous look and finish to the skin, not a hard shine, but that ‘lit from within’ look that defines the look of bare skin on this show,” says Mills.

Her Gleam Body Radiance is due in stores in May 2011. The product has already been written up in US Weekly and is an industry hit with many professional makeupartists calling up Melanie for their celebrity clients. “For several years I have stars coming to my house to get some Gleam for red carpet events and award shows, and it was time to make it available for everyone,” says Mills. Melanie is taking pre-orders at www.gleambymelaniemills.com.

Even makeup artist Zena Shteysel has used her experience on the show to create a valuable tool that the whole makeup trailer uses. Zena invented the clever Z Palette. The clear top allows a busy artist to color coordinate eyes, cheeks and lips to make finding that certain color all the easier. Zena’s Z Palettes are hot items and can be found at www.zpalette.com.

Other convenient and striking color collections that are making waves in the trailer are dot candy styled Yabypalettes and the stunning NYXpalettes of lips and eyes, all in one collections of color that make travel or streamlining your makeup a snap.

NYX Palette in Nude on Nude

“After the crucial St. Tropez self tanning step, the body is finished on show day with Gleam Body Radiance in Rose Gold, Bronze Gold and Deep Gold, depending on the star. Light Gold is mainly used as a highlighter in body sculpting and on the cheekbones and eyes for this show,” explained Mills.”Nobody wants to be on camera without Gleam.”

Another must-have item for all the artists is the Beauty Blender, a clever pink water drop shaped reusable sponge that you use after you run it under warm/hot water, and then squeeze. It makes foundation look flawless.

Also used were Anastasia Highlighting Creme Cheek duos and Eye Shadows, highly pigmented colors that improve the texture of the delicate eyelid skin.

Angel’s Makeup Collagen Pads are everyone’s little de-bagger secret. They work miracles and all the artists use them, on the men and women

The staple line of lashes are always Ardell Lashes. The strips (114, 117, 118, 40, 316) and individuals can be layered on big eyes like Wendy Williams and pro dancer Lacey Schwimmer. Newcomer Ja’Maal Buster eyelashes are hot on the show this season too. Spoiled Brat is a popular one.
Dark Duo adhesive is the go-to glue.

Laura Mercier dominated the concealers, with Secret Camouflage in shades ‘SC-6,” ‘SC-5″ and “SC-4” being the most popular. Zena’s secret weapon is YSL’s Touche Eclat, a click-pen of luminous concealer with light diffusing quality that pops the eyes open

A sponge to apply makeup so wake up and raise expectations so much passion I find it quite surprising.
Pink egg-shaped and appears to be much more than a sponge original design.
Beautyblender who have tried and can not do without it, they haveexpressed some celebrities and makeup artists causing great anger in the U.S..

It was created by two of Hollywood makeup artists Rea Ann Silva andVeronica Lorenz, focusing on the idea that a good makeup is achieved witha perfect fade.
Its effect is applied with an airbrush makeup, giving good coverage butwithout seeming dense, allowing to spread the foundation evenly.
Its price is around 20 euros and in Spain is for sale If perfume chain.
The price seems a little excessive but they are so good the results can be worthwhile.
It is completely odorless and hypoallergenic.
Can be used dry or wet, aumentandando 2 times its size.
Its pointed tip applicator serves not only as the correction but also for eyeshadow.
Can be used with all types of makeup including mineral makeup loosepowder.

I would like to know your opinion as to whether it is worth.
Do you know the Beauty Blender? “Have you tried?
Would you have recommended?

Pink Goes Barefoot In Pastel-Colored Beauty! Here’s How You Can, Too!

Pink, 31, was walking around barefoot in Malibu’s market on April 17 — take some time out this weekend to relax, unwind and paint your toes a pretty pastel hue!

If you dare to go bare, you need to take special precautions on your grooming! With new innovations in skincare and personal grooming, there’s a wider variety ofpastel colors available than ever before.

Beauty guru Blair Fowler tells us that pastels are a great way to experiment with different colors. “They’re not bright colors, so it’s an easy way to ease into using them.”

Blair gives us tips on wearing pastels on your nails! “If you’re feeling daring, wait for that to dry before using a tooth pick or teeny paint brush to polka dot your nails a different pastel color.”

Also, using two light colors doesn’t look as in-your-face as brights would. “I like using baby pink as a base, and yellow polka dots!”

You can shower with pretty floral scents and paint your nails a bubble-gum pink! Check out the gallery of our favorite pastel-colored beauty!

Beautyblender- The Future of Makeup Application

What’s hot pink… velvety to the touch… constantly in the hands of celebrity makeup artists… AND looks great in an Easter basket? Voilà! It’s beautyblender®, the innovative new way to apply makeup, and it’s bouncing its way from backstage at New York Fashion Week to the vanities of chic women across the globe. Developed by Hollywood makeup artist Rea Ann Silva, beautyblender® is an affordable, easy-to-use option for flawless foundation, blush or concealer application.

There were many reasons behind its creation, namely the need for a fast and professional blending tool. Let’s face it, airbrushing can be a costly, high-maintenance hassle that requires training; many foundation brushes cost over $30 and may leave streaks; triangular foam sponges can’t seem to fit the tiny contours surrounding nose and eyes. Beautyblender® is the answer to all of these woes and then some. Its soft shape leaves no detectable lines of demarcation and perfectly hugs the narrow curves of your visage. It’s latex-free, washable, ergonomic and has its own recycling program. It can be used damp or dry, and has two ends for multiple uses:

1. You can “bounce” (stipple) the round end over wider areas of the face to apply foundation or blush seamlessly.
2. Acne-sufferers, are you driving yourselves mad trying to cover those blemishes? Stop stressing and use beautyblender®’s pointed end in a press ‘n twist motion to evenly distribute makeup over the pesky red bumps.
3. You can press and roll the pointed end along the under eye area for an immaculate concealer application.
3. If you’re the kind of gal who likes to spread foundation on with your fingers, by all means continue. Think of beautyblender® as your “re-touching” tool, and use it to clean up and, as the tagline reads, “blend your way to a flawless face!”

On our fourth day of Afro-Latina beauty week, we’re tackling one of the biggest complaints we hear: Why can’t I find a foundation made for my skin color?!

So often foundations made for darker skin tones look too red on Afro-Latinas, and the foundations made for lighter skin tones look too gray or yellow. Because Afro-Latinas can have olive, red, or golden undertones (like our model Christina Milian), it can be extra difficult to find the perfect shade, says makeup artist Jackie Gomez. No wonder so many of us out there feel frustrated!

Luckily, Jackie has a secret: Face Atelier Ultra Foundation Pro ($32,faceatelier.com), which is a formula that combines olive, red, and golden pigments so it matches your complexion no matter what undertone you have. “It’s the only foundation I use when I work with Zoe Saldana, Beyonce, or Chanel Iman,” Jackie says. Shade numbers 5 to 7 work well on medium-dark and olive skin while shades 8 through 12 look great on dark skin with golden or red tones.

The foundation comes in a tiny tube, but it lasts forever, especially if you apply it with a slightly damp sponge (Jackie prefers the Beauty Blender, $19.95, beautyblender.net). Happy blending!

I’ve been doing loads of really cool editorial shoots lately, and have been using some really fun makeup and tools on them, and got to thinking you might find the things I obsess about interesting too. As such I’m going to do some posts about some of them.

First up, the ultimate blending tool, the Beauty Blender.

This one has actually been around for a while now, but is so fabulous it needs discussing!
Designed by celebrity makeup artist Ree Ann Silva as a means to create a completey seemless, flawless finish, this has become my favorite way to not only apply foundation but also cream blush.

Beauty Blenders are latex free, non allergenic and odor free. The elliptical shape fits easily in your hand, and enables you to bounce (or stipple) foundation onto the skin, creating a flawless finish with no streaking or wiping. The narrow end gets into hard to reach places, while the wider end bounces and rolls product across the broader planes of the face.

If you are a cream blush fanatic (like me) you can bounce the product over the cheek bone, and get the most beautiful finish to the skin. Beauty Blender presses product into the skin, so you don’t have that cakey layer of makeup sitting on the surface of the skin. Everything looks seemless and beautiful.

If you run with the eco-friendly crowd you’ll love these too, as you don’t throw them away. They come with a cleanser, and you just wash them in between uses.

This makeup applicator sponge was created by Hollywood makeup artist, Rea Ann Silva. It’s specifically made to give you a top-notch makeup application without needing a professional artist. The Beautyblender is a unique-shaped sponge that allows you to access hard-to-reach spots for a completely flawless look. The Blendercleanser keeps your sponge clean in between applications. Its earth-friendly formula and light lavender scent will make you want to clean your sponge religiously. We’re giving away five travel sized bottles of the Blendercleanser and a Beautyblender sponge housed in a pretty organza bag so you can take your “blender” goodies everywhere!

The head makeup artist for Dancing With the Stars tells us her favorite products for showtime!

Melanie Mills, spokesperson for Anastasia Beverly Hills and Head Makeup Artist for Dancing with the Stars, tell us about the products that the show’s stars can’t live without!The makeup for the show is so crucial– it has to have staying power, since Melanie says “we’re applying this stuff at 8 AM and they go on at 5 PM.” And everyone gets made up, including the guys! “With all the powerful lights there has to be some makeup and powder to knock down shine.”

Here are some of Melanie’s can’t-live-without products:

St. Tropez: “One of the key things we do with makeup for the show is tanning. I developed a color with St. Tropez because a lot of other brands weren’t working. The first step for getting our cast ready for the week is a spray tan on Sunday, for a nice, even finish. On show day, they get another layer of tan applied with a sponge.”

Gleam by Melanie Mills: “I came up with a product called Gleam by Melanie Mills– it’s a fabulous concoction that makes bodies look velvety, luscious, and dewy. Nobody wants to go on without the Gleam, because when you don’t have it you look flat!”

beautyblender: “A lot of people ask if we airbrush on foundation. I believe in the opposite: I feel like airbrush sits on top of skin and doesn’t become one with the skin, so I like to use liquid and cream foundation. A staple we don’t live without is the beautyblender, a reusable sponge that you wet. I think using this to blend it in is why the foundation looks so flawless.”

Anastasia Brow Products: “Another super key point for the show is beautiful eyebrows. I work with Anastasia, and all of their brow stuff is amazing– really, really great.” Melanie explains that Kendra Wilkinson has difficult eyebrows because, as a child, a friend accidentally shaved off her eyebrows trying to make her up. “She says no one has done them like I have— it takes me fifteen minutes, and I use a combination of products like the Brow Wiz and Tinted Brow Gel.”

Anastasia Eye Shadow: “Anastasia has come out with gorgeous cosmetics and skincare. I absolutely love their entire beauty line: it’s super high quality, and the colors are highly pigmented and good to work with and blend.”

Angel’s Makeup Collagen Pads: “These are little miracles. I’ve gone through so many eye collagen pads, I can’t even tell you. I use them on the whole cast– even the guys– and put them under their eyes while doing their makeup. When you peel them off, it’s crazy. They’re the best, as far as I’m concerned. They’re not cheap, but the results last 2-4 days.”

Ardell Lashes: “Eyelashes are crazy important– nobody goes on without eyelashes, whether it’s a box of individuals or 2-4 strips. I give Wendy Williams 4 pairs of lashes, because she’s got big gorgeous eyes and they can take it. Our favorite are Ardell, which are the best out there.”

Okay, if you STILL haven’t bought one (I told you I’d wait), here’s why you should:

I have used cosmetic sponges before, but this is a whole ‘notha level. This cute, little pink thing is made out of super-spongy material that somehow manages to give me a flawless foundation application every single time. No streaks and no areas with too much makeup or too little.

You can use it with liquid or pancake foundation (I use either, depending on my mood). The wide part can be used to apply foundation onto your cheeks, forehead and chin, and the tapered end helps you smooth the foundation into smaller areas (like around your nose, brow and eyes).

You can also wet it slightly to get a lighter coverage. I use the Beauty Blender cleanser to clean it often (I use the cleanser for my makeup brushes too). I’ve had the Beauty Blender sponge for over a year and it hasn’t lost its shape or had any nicks or dings. I bring it with me everywhere, and even tossed into a makeup bag, it holds up well.

One of my biggest pet peeves with makeup, is making sure that everything is blended seamlessly. From my tinted moisturizer to blush, everything works better together when there are no apparent distinctions. Makeup artists, magazines, and blogs have been raving out this little secret—and I, of course, had to share it with you!

This little pink sponge is the ultimate makeup tool. The Beautyblender was designed by makeup artist Rea Ann Silva, who has beautified Hollywood starlets like Macy Gray, Carmen Electra, and Erin Andrews. She developed the product while on a shoot and decided to take it to the mass market, so the rest of us could enjoy having perfect skin, too. The pointed edge is perfect for right around the eyes and I’ve been using the sponge not just for my concealer, but cream or liquid blushes, too.

I asked Rea Ann to share some of her tips on how to use this handy tool.

5 Tips on the Beauyblender From the Expert

– Bounce beautyblender against your face when applying make up. This blends make up without creating changes in the texture or tone of your skin.

– Use the round base for foundation and blush on the larger areas of your face such as your forehead, cheeks and chin.

– Use it damp when applying wet/dry make up. When the beautyblender is wet, it is normal for it to expand to nearly twice its original size. Wash after use and place it in the insert pedestal to dry.

– If you have problem skin the beautyblender works to cover blemishes. Use the pointed end and the stipple and twist technique to work make up into depressed areas of the face. The stippling and twisting action feathers out the makeup’s edges, leaving a perfect finish.

– The smaller tip end is not only the best applicator for concealer under the eyes, around the nose, but also for achieving dramatic results with your eyeshadow!